Spanish museum boss Vicente Todoli is to be the new director of London's Tate Modern art gallery, taking over early next year.

Mr Todoli will have a role in programming events at the gallery from September, and said he looked forward to the "challenge of taking Tate Modern forward into the next decade".

"I am fortunate to be joining such a dynamic team and look forward to working closely with Tate staff," he added.

Current director Lars Nittve wants to return to Sweden

Mr Todoli will succeed Lars Nittve, Tate Modern's launch director, who announced he was leaving in June 2001, just over a year after the building finally opened its doors after four years of renovation work.

Mr Nittve said he wanted to return to his native Sweden.

Mr Todoli, 43, studied art history at Yale University in the US after getting a degree at the University of Valencia.

He was chief curator and artistic director of IVAM (Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno) before joining the Museu Serralves in Porto, Portugal, as its founding director in 1996.

Tate Modern opened in 2000

As well as advising many European galleries, in 1995 Mr Todoli was a member of the jury and advisory committee of the Carnegie international prize.

The museum boss also curated an exhibition of the late Spanish sculptor Juan Muņoz - who last year contributed a huge installation to the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall.

Tate director Nicholas Serota said of the new appointment: "It is really exciting that we have been able to attract a director of such evident talent and distinction.

"Vicente Todoli has run one of the most successful new contemporary art museums to have opened in Europe in the last five years and his appointment demonstrates that today's artworld is truly international."